Stay Away From ‘Close To Danger’
I cringe at the underlying messages in ABC’s “Close to Danger” at 9.
Lisa Rinna stars as a college student who becomes the victim of a deranged writer (Rob Estes) obsessed with murder.
The network may portray this as a terrifying drama about a woman who risks her life to nab a killer, but that’s only one way of looking at it.
How she got “close to danger” is the problem. This movie suggests that romantic and sexual impulses can easily override the good sense of even a bright and resourceful young woman.
Anyone else would take one look at Adam Harris (Estes) and immediately head in the opposite direction. For some reason, Jennifer Cole (Rinna) finds him intriguing.
Don’t you think the pictures of Ted Bundy and Charles Manson hanging in his house would be some clue that he’s a psycho?
But no. Jennifer dumps her jealous boyfriend and becomes involved with Harris because she’s aroused by typing the manuscript of his novel in progress. Which gets me to a second underlying message: Women can get really turned on by reading about a rapist-murderer.
When Jennifer finally realizes Harris is going to kill someone, she discovers that there’s not much the police can do about a person who’s only thinking about a murder.
Rinna and Estes joined the cast of “Melrose Place” this season. Estes, especially, shows the influence of long-term exposure to over-the-top performances.
He’s scary, but only in a make-believe sort of way. That’s one more reason to avoid this psycho-dribble.
Highlights
“Going Places,” KSPS at 8: Al Roker (“Today”) hosts this eight-part travel series. First stop: London.
“Murphy Brown,” CBS at 9: Murphy and Frank (Candice Bergen, Joe Regalbuto) fight over who’ll get Jim’s (Charles Kimbrough) commentary spot when the “FYI” anchor is sidelined with a hernia.
“Crime and Punishment in America,” KSPS at 9: This two-hour-long special, based on a book by Lawrence M. Friedman, traces the history of the American criminal justice system.
“Home Invasion” (1996), NBC at 9: Veronica Hamel and Bonnie Root star as a mother and daughter held hostage by a trio of ex-cons. Unavailable for review.
Cable Calls
“La Femme Nikita,” USA at 10: This action-spy adventure is based on the hit 1990 French film of the same name and its 1993 American remake, “Point of No Return.” It comes to television as a weekly series.
Peta Wilson plays the drug addict recruited against her will by a government assassination bureau. There’s no comparison to the theatrical versions.
Wilson, an Australian athlete-turned-actress, is alluring, however.
“The New Adventures of Robin Hood,” TNT at 7: Matthew Porretta, who played Will Scarlet O’Hara in Mel Brooks’ “Robin Hood: Men in Tights,” stars in TNT’s first original series. Anna Galvin is sexy Marion.
The premiere was unavailable for review.
“South Bank Show,” BRAVO at 7: “Dusty Springfield: Full Circle” is a treat for children of the ‘60s. The British pop-rocker recounts her amazing career in an hour that includes some terrific performance footage.
The Pet Shop Boys and Elvis Costello are interviewed.
“What If?” DISC at 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.: Yeah, what if the 1994 Northridge, Calif., earthquake had been followed by a more powerful quake? Special effects dramatize the damage, and interviews illustrate a fictional rebuilding to protect against future killer quakes.
This three-part “What If” miniseries continues Tuesday with “Extraterrestrial Contact” and Wednesday with “President King.”
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Actor Kevin Costner, actress Tracy Ullman and musical guest Goo Goo Dolls. Repeat.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Actor Kevin Spacey and actress Madeline Kahn.
“Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:05 a.m.: Singer Don Henley, actor Malcolm McDowell and former Nixon adviser John Ehrlichman.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: David Hasselhoff (“Baywatch”) and Dave Thomas (“Grace Under Fire”). Repeat.